All offseason the talk surrounding Kentucky was whether or not they could get a significant piece to help them inside. Wednesday they got their missing piece in the frontcourt, in the form of Wake Forest transfer Olivier Sarr.
Sarr is scheduled to be a sit-one, play-one transfer but many are expecting him to get some sort of waiver. It should be noted that the NCAA has not been one to hand out waivers for players leaving because of a head coaching change, so while Sarr seems destined to play in a Kentucky uniform, it is not a done deal.
While Sarr has chosen Kentucky, he has left the option open to play professionally if he is unable to secure a waiver for this year.
Sarr had heard from many schools including Baylor, Duke, Gonzaga, and Florida State but he chose Kentucky over all of those schools. “I felt it was the best fit and the best opportunity for me, being able to play for that great program and showcasing my winning drive on that stage,” Sarr said to ESPN about his decision. “Coach Cal (John Calipari) made me understand that I was needed over here.” The decision comes as Kentucky badly needed help in the frontcourt, while many waited for the decision many, including us, Predicted Kentucky would land the coveted transfer.
The 7’0″ junior averaged 13.7 PPG and 9.7 RPG this past season for Wake Forest and was named as a Third-Team All-ACC performer. While it would be hard to see him put up the same numbers this season, he will provide a veteran presence for an extremely young Kentucky team.